Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-18

never examined II. oeYerdi ti'ncs L
had requested him to allow me to look
al il hut was always met by an ex-
cuee, or by the true statement tnat L
had promised him that l would not do
81.
".Neyer. he would answer excited
". never shall human eye look on the
secret of ny work.
"Harofl,ki gave me just now consld.
cradle anxiety he became strange and
abrupt. the realization OF his dream
seemed TO have slightly unhinged his
mind be drank, too, much more than
was good for him.
81 sang on at the opera in the height
of nv success; was Jcfcd and ca
rosscd. The great Doreml, clad IN
purple and fine linen, and with the
Zig diamond, the gift Of Dr. v, on his
fnccr.' was the observed Of all OBJ
sewers; ard yet, Oeing SO lavish, !
never had "A farthing in my pocket.
"1he great r. had composed an
oI.cra specially for me the basso's part
was scored for my exceptional voice
10 one but Doremi could attempt to
sing the music. Success was sure.
"Cne day as | smoked my cigar, sit
ting on bench in the little garden
wkich used then to surround the lofty
tower Of St Jacques de IA BOucheri' 10,
! saw BaroliGki walking slowly and
nuttering to himself. Hesecmed very
III. the Polish Doctor. His hair and
beard were unbru.hed, rs were ms
clothes; a general air OF unhdiness
hung about him-he usually 50 precise.
Is he passed my bench he nodded to
ne and sat down by my side.
"'I'm hardly perfect, said and
to-night's business is a serious matter.
= be spccialiy-written opera was Tor
that very night.
"'Poohl' said he, with n sheer ;
'tbe Sienor's voice will carry hun
through, never fear.
"'By the way | remarked, the
Sipuor's voice is III your pocket. Are
you coming into NY room to give it
me
Gle didn't answer, but began t.
,uut.,r to himself. J, who had always
made Il point OF not nothing his &C.
ccutricities. appeared t. take no heed.
"'Lct as ascend TIC tower. said be-.
"In such heat as this No, my
friend, / laughed, not Tor me. ! VIII
wait for you here.
"'Adieu, then, he.said.
"'Au rcr0ir; ! will wait for you
here
"'I shall come directly said the
Pole, with a strange look.
"No sooner was he gone than | felt
nervous and apprchensivc OF | knew
not what. Why had | let the Pole
ascend the tower alone? Was he safe
No: should not have left him.
Hardly had these thoughts passed
through my mind when heard a
piercing shrek, and with a dreadful
tlud the body of my wretched friend
fell from the lofty tower at my feet.
A crowd collected they surrounded
hin. i surgeon came; alas life was
extinct. / directed the ScrYcW ri,
riHr to remove him to my rooms,
which Wc1e close by. The c0DtVis60io
arrived and Ire official doctor. The
facts of Tie case were too clear. The
guardian of the tower had seen him
leap shricbing into the air be-
fore he could stop linn. There WIS
10 suspicion Of foul play. Unloubt d
suicide. ! WIS left alone with my
dead Trend Alas what was my first
thought? 4 selfish one. / examined
tie br, ast pocket; thcre Was the LITTLE
ROCCO case. IT was crushed llgt.
With trembling hands ] opened il
there lay my voice in thousand fra e
mUts-the delicate mechanism ruined,
destroyed, auuihilated. / an glad t.
say the selfish impulse passed away,
ard ] thought OF poor Baroiski and
his sudden death. | sent q hurried
note 10 my director-thc opera must
ie postponed. Paris, insatia.e Paris,
must be deprived of an important pre-
nior-he deprived till it could find "a
basso who could attempt the specially
written music. That would believer.
81 buried my poor iriend-he, too,
was pcnnilcss, for he was a gambler
ard fastened into seclusion, leaving
30 trace.
"For six months | lived on the big
diamond nng. l wrote my oXplana-
ion to the Paris paper. | had indeed
lost-alas fcroyer-my phenomenal
voice. | had ceased to be the great
Dortmi.
- now live by teaching my dear M
tive language"
lie took ont poor old silver watch.
Pardon me-" he said, "but my next
pupil is nearly due" lie bowed and
hurried from the room.